NanciNet Digest 6-27-03
// Now, where was that Woolworth's, really?
// Enjoy. [BP]
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Subject: NN: Nanci in Spanish textbook
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 11:42:23 -0400
From: "James Troiano" (James_Troiano@umit.maine.edu>
Hi folks: I was looking over possible textbooks for second year Spanish
and
one of the characters in the text lists her favorite singers as:
Mercedes
Sosa, Sting, and Nanci Griffith. I immediately told my colleague how
favorably impressed I was with that text. Has anyone heard the new Nanci
song "Stand your Ground?" Or the other two? I will probably buy the
album
even though there are only three new songs, two of which I have not
heard.
See you, Jim
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Subject: NN: Austin City Limits
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 08:27:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Bill Page" (bpage3@yahoo.com>
As noted earlier by one of our list sibs, the 2001 Austin City
Limits episode with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Nanci Griffith is
in the rotation this week in many US TV markets. For Milwaukee,
that meant the show aired last night.
This is the "Clock without Hands" show, with most of the music
coming from that CD. It's also the one where Nanci's nephew
Dakota joins her on stage, with a guitar almost as big as he is!
It was on an earlier ACL show (circa 1986) that I first
discovered Nanci. And every time I let myself drift away, and
start listening to other singers while ignoring Nanci, I come
across one of these shows that brings me back to my unabashed
admiration for her voice and talent.
I haven't given "Clock without Hands" as much play as I should,
I think. But there's some good music there, and I'm gonna try to
get back into it over the next week or so.
Hope you're enjoying some good music this week.
Bill "watch without batteries" Page
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Subject: NN: 12-string guitar
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 11:51:59 -0700
From: "Susan Peete" (suepeete@cruzio.com>
I must sell a 12-string Taylor 655ce guitar with case. Bill didn't have
it
for very long. The sale slip reads that he bought it on 7-7-01 at Union
Grove Music in Santa Cruz. Bill didn't have a chance to play it much
that
one year before he died (July 18, 2002) because he was still recovering
from
a badly broken wrist from a previous bike accident. The guitar is in
perfect
condition. You can check out the model on the Taylor web-site at
http://www.taylorguitars.com
I plan to hang on to the Martin, Taylor 914c and Taylor 512ng for now.
I had a great time at the Kerrville Folk festival in Texas. Denice
Franke
and Eric Taylor both put on great shows. Eric Taylor has a new CD out
titled
"The Kerrville Tapes" It's Eric's first live album, recorded during 3
different appearances at the Folk Festival, Denice sings back-up on
many of
the cuts. Judy Collins was in excellent voice. That was actually the
first
time I've seen her in concert, glad I had the chance, it was great!
I enjoyed seeing some NN's & special friends in Austin, San Antonio,
Junction, and Fort Worth, like Mark and Sherry Ferguson, and their young
charming son Charlie, Shelly and Frank, Rob, Maggie, and Billy Joe. We
had
our traditional Shiner Boch toast :) in Austin and Amy's ice cream in
honor
of Bill. Thank you all for the great fun.
Please let me know if you are interested in discussing details on the
12-string Taylor.
Thank you,
Sue Peete
suepeete@cruzio.com
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Subject: NN: While I'm lurking....
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 22:02:24 -0500
From: "David Grant" (david@grantguerrero.com>
Hi there.
Nancy wrote:
> So, can anyone who is an Austin native past or present clarify
> exactly where the old Woolworth's store was. I was guessing either
> where the ABC (ABS?) Bank is now or the Starbucks Coffee. The buildings
> on the other two corners looked too extravagant to be a Woolworth's
> at any time. Of course it may not have been on the very corner of 6th
> and Congress at all
The Woolworth's store was indeed on the corner of 6th and Congress. It
was
the northwest corner, where the Starbucks is now. The building there
now (a
high-rise office building) used to have a private club on the 13th floor
called the Metropolitan Club, where you could still waltz the floors on
a
Saturday night -- if you were a member or invited guest. But the
Metropolitan Club closed down about three years ago.
John said:
> There was a Woolworth store right opposite the Alamo. However as far
> as the song goes I think it was poetic licence on Nanci's part. Perhaps
> the store never existed in that exact location. Over to our old time
> Austinites.
The Alamo is in San Antonio, not Austin...
David
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Subject: NN: Re: While I'm lurking....
From: "John Graveling" (kai21@dial.pipex.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 14:30:05 +0100
Yup! Silly old me. I had a blind to geography moment. It was 12 years
ago my
last visit to Austin/San Antonio. The Woolworth store wasn't there then
as
we stayed at the hotel on 1st and Congress, and walked all around the
area.
A lot has changed in the meantime too, so I understand. Liberty Lunch
that
fave of rock and alt-country bands has also gone.
John Graveling
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Subject: NN: Re: While I'm lurking
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 12:44:40 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Clive Dawson" (clive.dawson@amd.com>
Nancy wrote:
> So, can anyone who is an Austin native past or present clarify
> exactly where the old Woolworth's store was. I was guessing either
> where the ABC (ABS?) Bank is now or the Starbucks Coffee. The buildings
> on the other two corners looked too extravagant to be a Woolworth's
> at any time. Of course it may not have been on the very corner of 6th
> and Congress at all
Then John responded:
> There was a Woolworth store right opposite the Alamo.
That would be 70 miles south, in San Antonio. :-)
> However as far as the song goes I think it was poetic licence on
> Nanci's part. Perhaps the store never existed in that exact location.
Gasp! That kind of talk is not taken lightly around these precincts.
Next
you'll say that she didn't really ride the bus between North and South
Austin, and never winked at any boys! ;-)
> Over to our old time Austinites.
The venerable Woolworth's store did, in fact, occupy the space on the
northwest corner of 6th Street and Congress Avenue. Most if not all of
that
block was torn down and replaced by the current mammoth office building,
which houses the Starbucks Coffee place on the corner.
Nancy continued:
> Austin's a cool city. I hope to go back there some day and spend
> more time and check out the music scene on 6th Ave. Is it still a
> thriving center for music? Anyone care to lament or exalt about
> Austin feel free.
Austin continues to bill itself as the Live Music Capital of the World.
(Don't know how many other cities do the same!) Despite some continuing
political debate regarding how much the city does/should do in support
of
our live musicians, it's still a thriving scene. One of Nanci's oldest
haunts, a place called "Hole in the Wall" at 26th and Guadalupe,
(across the
street from where Austin City Limits is taped) was rumored to have
closed
down several months ago, but it looks like it's still in business last
time
I checked. My most favorite folk venue is the Cactus Cafe, a couple
blocks
south at 23rd and Guadalupe, in the Univ. of Texas Student Union. It
was a
regular hangout for Townes Van Zandt (RIP). Other fine venues which
take
kindly to folk music include Antone's and La Zona Rosa. I should also
note
the relatively recent influx of a couple of popular Irish pubs: Fado'
and
Mother Egan's.
Two excellent sites for those interested in the Austin music scene:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/music
which includes a listing of over 400(!) local venues at
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gbase/Guides/Venue
(Click on the Cactus Cafe entry--it mentions Nanci)
and
http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/index.html
which includes a very useful "Musicians Guide"
to help make performers feel welcome.
Questions? I'll be glad to try and help.
Clive Dawson
(in Austin since '71, longer than most natives!)
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Subject: Re: NN: While I'm lurking....
From: "Shelly Brisbin" (shelly@brisbin.net>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 14:29:42 -0500
> So, can anyone who is an Austin native past or present clarify
> exactly where the old Woolworth's store was.
The famous Woolworth's store was at the Northwest corner of 6th Street
and
Congress in Austin. The building was demolished to make way for the
21-story
One American Center, about 20 years ago. There is, I'm sorry to report,
a
Starbuck's on the ground floor, right at the corner. The corner is
still a
major north-south bus transfer point. I was there this morning.
-shelly in Austin
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Subject: NN: Re: Patty Loveless at House of Blues
From: PRobin5478@aol.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2003 23:49:27 EDT
I promised Doug (and some other people) I would report on the Patty
Loveless
show at the House of Blues in Anaheim the other week. Better late than
never...
As far as the set-up, it was different from the HOB on Sunset because
there
were rows of CHAIRS set up on the dance floor (unlike the Sunset club
which
is standing room only.) I don't know how they'll set up for Dwight Y.
but I
think he'd want a crowd that would dance. Maybe you should call ahead.
Anyway, Patty's show was EXCELLENT, if totally predictable. She did
greatest hits, a couple of cuts from her new album (to be released in
September -- seems like a hybrid of bluegrass and pop-country, like the
Dixie Chicks), and a long, wonderful "mountain soul" segment.
She had a SEVEN-PIECE band (are you listening, Emmy?) who could give her
every sound she needed -- from lush, keyboard-drenched pop to raunchy
rock
to roots-country. She had one guy who was just pedal steel guitar and
dobro. Nice!
One guy who played acoustic guitar and did the "George Jones" harmony on
"You Don't Seem to Miss Me." With seven band members, she had enough
different combinations of instrumentalists that she could have twin
fiddles, twin mandolins, whatever she wanted.
She did full, dedicated versions of lots of her hits, going back to
"Timber,
I'm Falling in Love" and "Don't Toss Us Away." She ended with a
fabulous
"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye."
Her voice was in excellent state, strong and clear and expressive. She
had
that prim, yet white-trashy sexiness that her fans (at least, her male
and
lesbian fans) appreciate.
Excellent night of music.
(And I'm thinking of doing Dwight Y., too.)
Peter Robinson
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Subject: Re: NN: Re: Patty Loveless at House of Blues
From: DvBGardner@genelogic.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 09:20:16 -0400
Peter -- I'm sure you're not the only one who has been thinking about
doing
Dwight Y...(grin)
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Subject: Re: NN: Re: Patty Loveless at House of Blues
From: DvBGardner@genelogic.com
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 11:50:35 -0400
Peter wrote:
((...Um, yeah. Gotta watch those little "harmless" words. Remember when
"gay" meant happy and carefree? >>
Oh yes, I do remember it well. When we immigrated to the U.S. many years
ago, my then 6-year old heard the word "gay" on TV and was told that it
meant "happy, cheerful". After that, she was known to exclaim "I'm so
gay!
I'm so gay!" when she was happy about something. How were we to
explain to
a 6-year old that there is a different connotation to this word in this
country?
Unfortunately, nowadays, I've heard some young people use that word not
in
its current well-established meaning of homosexuality, but as a negative
insult, as in "stupid" or "nerd" or so. I've had to call a few of them
on
the carpet on this one before.
Ahhhhh, semantics or linguistics?
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Subject: NN: Tift Merritt.....
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 22:44:22 +0000
From: "nancy" (nhight@gloryroad.net>
Ah, you haven't heard Tift Merritt until you've been to see her live
with
her band The Carbines. She is an awesome song writer and an awesome
performer. A tiny little thing with a powerful yet very pleasant voice.
She's from my neck of the woods and I have had the privilege of seeing
her
several times over the past 4 years. What can I say, Nanci Griffith has
always been all time favorite singer songwriter but Tift Merritt is
running
a very close second. A much different performer than Nanci but just as
profound of an artist and just as prolific as I'm sure we will see in
the
future.
Look for her new CD which is due sometime this winter and definitely go
see
her if you get a chance. She did her first big tour this year and I'm
sure
she will do the same for the next CD.
~Nancy
(Was hoping I'd get a chance to talk about Tift Merritt here. Laura
Love
ain't too bad either.)
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